Post office mailbox cut from bolts in Modesto

Officials are investigating, looking for person or people responsible

Brian Cannell dropped off his mortgage payment Wednesday night into the big blue mailbox outside the post office on Kearney Avenue in Modesto.

When he drove by Thursday morning, he noticed the entire mailbox was gone. Sure enough, it had been cut from where the bolts held the metal box to the ground.

Cannell said he went into the post office and told an employee. The worker had no idea the mailbox was even missing this morning.

Maggie Potter said she dropped off a bridal shower invitation in the now-missing mailbox Wednesday night.

Now, she told KCRA 3, she can't trust dropping off mail after something like this has happened.

Fortunately for Cannell, he found out about the mailbox theft and was able to cancel his bank account and open up a new one. He said he doesn't want to take any chances.

Cannell hopes others who dropped off mail sometime Wednesday night and up until Thursday morning are aware of what's going on, and take precautions as necessary.

The post office is investigating the theft. Officials have not said whether the surveillance video outside the building caught the thieves in action.

The post office also told KCRA 3 that employees are working on notifying people about the theft, without going into detail.

U.S. Postal Inspector Troy Dickinson said there is no surveillance video available to the media in the investigation. Whoever is responsible could face a felony charge, and a $250,000 fine, Dickinson added.

There is a $10,000 reward leading to an arrest and conviction.

The post office on Kearney Avenue has no way of knowing who put mail in the missing box, and will therefore put a sign at its facility, hoping people will become aware of the situation that way.

Anyone with information or tips on the case is asked to call 877-876-2455, option 2.